José Otero Dr. Michael T. Williamson ENGL 864 17 June 2014 Response: Continued Discussion of Pages 273-75 For this response, I wanted to continue the discussion of the scene where Edmond gives Fanny a necklace. Because of the multiple relationships occurring in the novel, the discussion of the necklace can be read as a discussion of those relationships. After Edmond states that Fanny should not return Mary’s necklace, Fanny responds by arguing that “I should not have thought of returning it; but being her brother’s present, is not it fair to suppose that she would rather not part with it, when it is not wanted” (273). When I read this, I see the necklace as being representative of Henry. Fanny is essentially saying that she does not want Henry as a partner, and since he is not wanted by her, it would make more sense for him to return to the house with his sister. In other words, Mary wouldn’t want her brother to leave unless he was sincerely wanted by another woman. When Edmond responds to this, this metaphor develops further. Speaking of Henry’s necklace/Henry, Edmond argues that “no doubt it is handsomer than mine, and fitter for a ball-room” (273). Here, it appears that Edmond is sincerely discussing the two necklaces; however, Fanny interprets this as a comparison between Edmond and Henry, where Edmond is suggesting that he is not as appealing to Fanny as Henry is. This ties into the discussion of the note that we had in class. Fanny is just imagining this is what Edmond is discussing and protests that “No, it is not handsomer, not at all handsomer in its way, and for my purpose not half so fit. The chain will agree with William’s cross beyond all comparison better than the necklace” (273). Besides arguing against Edmond not being handsome, she notes that Edmond is more “fit” for her purposes. In Fanny’s mind, she and Edmond share the same outlook on life and how it should be conducted, so he is more “fit” to marry. She also argues that the familial relationship will be better because Edmond will fit better with her brother William whom she values so much. As Edmond continues to argue for her keeping Henry’s necklace/Henry, he uses the same types of arguments that he later uses to suggest Fanny should keep an open mind about marrying Henry. He doesn’t want Fanny to give an “air of ingratitude” (273). Despite these arguments, Fanny can only focus on Edmond’s final statement that included her as one of “the two dearest objects [he has] on earth” (273). Fanny doesn’t appear to have any problem being referred to as an object despite her refusal to be essentially given as one to Henry. I suppose that is quite a different level of oppression, but the fact that she is seen as an object should give her pause. In any case, at this point, Fanny is completely caught up in the illusion that Edmond loves her, or at least, that she loves Edmond. Because of this, she is jealous of Mary and contemplates her worth. She doesn’t believe that Mary deserves to have someone as wonderful as Edmond and that Edmond was somehow deceived by her: “But he was deceived in her: he gave her merits which she had not; her faults were what they had ever been, but he saw them no longer” (274). I can’t help but think that Fanny may be the one that is deceived. She doesn’t see any faults in Edmond and has deceived herself about his merits. Her early childhood was so traumatic that the small amounts of kindness that Edmond supplied appeared to reveal Edmond as being particularly virtuous. In reality, any morally average person would have found it horrible that Fanny couldn’t be given a room of her own, or a fire, or be treated like an equal member of the family. So while it is commendable in some way that Edmond treated her better and argued for better treatment of her than everyone else, the actual actions taken only look that good because everyone else’s actions were deplorable.
Dr. Michael T. Williamson
ENGL 864
17 June 2014
Response: Continued Discussion of Pages 273-75
For this response, I wanted to continue the discussion of the scene where Edmond gives Fanny a necklace. Because of the multiple relationships occurring in the novel, the discussion of the necklace can be read as a discussion of those relationships. After Edmond states that Fanny should not return Mary’s necklace, Fanny responds by arguing that “I should not have thought of returning it; but being her brother’s present, is not it fair to suppose that she would rather not part with it, when it is not wanted” (273). When I read this, I see the necklace as being representative of Henry. Fanny is essentially saying that she does not want Henry as a partner, and since he is not wanted by her, it would make more sense for him to return to the house with his sister. In other words, Mary wouldn’t want her brother to leave unless he was sincerely wanted by another woman.
When Edmond responds to this, this metaphor develops further. Speaking of Henry’s necklace/Henry, Edmond argues that “no doubt it is handsomer than mine, and fitter for a ball-room” (273). Here, it appears that Edmond is sincerely discussing the two necklaces; however, Fanny interprets this as a comparison between Edmond and Henry, where Edmond is suggesting that he is not as appealing to Fanny as Henry is. This ties into the discussion of the note that we had in class. Fanny is just imagining this is what Edmond is discussing and protests that “No, it is not handsomer, not at all handsomer in its way, and for my purpose not half so fit. The chain will agree with William’s cross beyond all comparison better than the necklace” (273). Besides arguing against Edmond not being handsome, she notes that Edmond is more “fit” for her purposes. In Fanny’s mind, she and Edmond share the same outlook on life and how it should be conducted, so he is more “fit” to marry. She also argues that the familial relationship will be better because Edmond will fit better with her brother William whom she values so much.
As Edmond continues to argue for her keeping Henry’s necklace/Henry, he uses the same types of arguments that he later uses to suggest Fanny should keep an open mind about marrying Henry. He doesn’t want Fanny to give an “air of ingratitude” (273). Despite these arguments, Fanny can only focus on Edmond’s final statement that included her as one of “the two dearest objects [he has] on earth” (273). Fanny doesn’t appear to have any problem being referred to as an object despite her refusal to be essentially given as one to Henry. I suppose that is quite a different level of oppression, but the fact that she is seen as an object should give her pause.
In any case, at this point, Fanny is completely caught up in the illusion that Edmond loves her, or at least, that she loves Edmond. Because of this, she is jealous of Mary and contemplates her worth. She doesn’t believe that Mary deserves to have someone as wonderful as Edmond and that Edmond was somehow deceived by her: “But he was deceived in her: he gave her merits which she had not; her faults were what they had ever been, but he saw them no longer” (274). I can’t help but think that Fanny may be the one that is deceived. She doesn’t see any faults in Edmond and has deceived herself about his merits. Her early childhood was so traumatic that the small amounts of kindness that Edmond supplied appeared to reveal Edmond as being particularly virtuous. In reality, any morally average person would have found it horrible that Fanny couldn’t be given a room of her own, or a fire, or be treated like an equal member of the family. So while it is commendable in some way that Edmond treated her better and argued for better treatment of her than everyone else, the actual actions taken only look that good because everyone else’s actions were deplorable.